For three months, 88 days to be exact, from late January until April 2024, we travelled the length of Vietnam, from the hustle of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), a city of more than 9 million people and just as many scooters, to the capital Hanoi and the cool and magnificent mountains of Sapa in the North, directly underneath China. Then we came back down again overland.
My blog posts all linked below, and written as we went, are a journal and visual record of our travels. Click on any post and immerse yourself in the magic of Vietnam.
From the sensory overload of life when first arriving, the crazy traffic, amazing coffee and cuisine and even dealing with getting sick and going to hospital towards the end of the trip, you’ll get the real deal here.
Here is our story of Vietnam in all of its colourful cultural awesomeness!
Read about our first impressions in Saigon, the art of crossing the road in a city of more than 9 million people and just as many scooters, our first meal of Pho amongst the locals in District 3 of HCMC to the colours of TET (Lunar New Year) in Nha Trang. This is our first three weeks in Vietnam.
Hoi An is an enchanting city of lanterns, vibrant yellow buildings, history and culture. We cycled, immersed ourselves in the local culture and discovered An Bang Beach which lead to us extending our stay in this area for a couple of weeks. Though I didn’t write a dedicated post on An Bang beach it was a firm favourite.
Danang, with its clean and beautiful beaches, temples and impressive bridges that span the Han River, is worthy of a few nights stay. And let’s not forget those cheeky monkeys that come out near the giant Lady Buddah. And the amazing fire breathing Dragon Bridge is a must see.
Hue, the former ancient capital of Vietnam stole my heart. However, it also caused me a bit of heat exhaustion. Tip: don’t go visiting the Citadel in the middle of the day. Try late afternoon when the heat is less intense and the colours already vibrant, are at their best.
It was here we rode a scooter for the first time in Vietnam. Another tip, do as the locals do and use your horn a lot. You can read about our first time riding here.
Hanoi is the bustling capital city of Vietnam with iconic Train Street, the Old Quarter with its specialised streets of shopping, walks around the lake, French architecture and coffee culture. There’s so many unexpected delights and so much to discover in Hanoi.
Catch a sleeper train from Hanoi and head up to the hills of Sapa where you can experience a slower pace, amongst the mountains, villages and minority tribes who live here. Spectacular views await you as you ride the cable car to Fansipan, the highest mountain in Vietnam. Most hotels have amazing views of the mountains too.
We went from a luxury overnight cruise at Han La Bay to the lush countryside of Ninh Binh. Feel the magic of the limestone karsts of Tam Coc and Trang An, as you cycle beside green fields and get up early to walk the steep steps to the view up the top of Mua Cave. The stunning landscapes of Ninh Binh encapsulates the beauty of Vietnam.
Did you know that Phong Nha is home to the biggest cave on the planet, Hang Son Doong? This is such a picturesque part of Vietnam with a gorgeous river and extraordinary caves to explore. We loved scootering through the National Park and enjoyed lunch overlooking the river at Funny Monkeys. Phong Nha is a laid back place that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Our Last Stop: Phu Quoc: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Many people choose to either start or end their Vietnam trip on this island, located just off Cambodia. I can see why. It’s beautiful. However, it was also here I got sick.
Yep, no matter how careful you are, it can happen anywhere and, well, if you’re gonna get sick anywhere it may as well be somewhere special … this place on Phu Quoc Island was definitely that.
It was quite a way to end our trip before we flew back to HCMC and then after an overnight stay and some last shopping, back to Oz.
A few fast facts about Vietnam
Almost every household in Vietnam has a motorcycle.
Sidewalks and footpaths are not for walking!
Vietnam is the world’s largest exporter of cashew nuts. And black pepper.
Snake wine has an almost legendary status in Vietnam. But we didn’t try it.
Vietnam is the second-largest coffee producer in the world after Brazil. We had plenty of those!
However we never did try coffee made from weasel poop. It’s apparently one of the most luxurious coffees in the world. Damn, maybe I should’ve!
The name Nguyen is the most common surname in Vietnam. More than 40% of people share it. It’s pronounced ‘win’.
Did you know that chairs are tiny on sidewalk cafes, not because the Vietnamese are short. It’s so they can be quickly deployed, stacked up, moved then stored. In past days it was a side hustle to survive, so small chairs and tables meant they could be quickly taken away and hidden from the police. So today tiny tables and chairs are an icon of their entrepreneurial spirit, tenacity and survival.
There’s no legal drinking age in Vietnam.
Bamboo pipe smoking is a common thing in Vietnam, especially in the north around Hanoi. Doug was offered a smoke one day on the streets.
Speed dating began in Vietnam, notably around Sapa where they still have the “Love Markets”.
Don’t be surprised to see the Vietnamese wearing pyjamas as day wear. Yep, they love their PJs.
They also like their siestas and it’s not unusual to see them sleeping after lunch, on a bench, in a hammock or in the saddle of a motorbike.
“The best way to take care of the future is to take care of the present moment.” ― Thích Nhất Hạnh
I think the Vietnamese have that art down to a tee. Here’s to living mindfully, in the present, making the most of wherever we are. ❤️
Out an' About 